CALIFORNINA HOUSE:
California, West Virginia was a tiny hamlet located approximately 27
miles east of Parkersburg, in Wirt County. (About halfway between
Freeport and Cisco on modern maps.)
Oil was first drilled here in the early 1800s by Bushrod Washington
Creel (born about 1805 - died 1875). The nation's first commercial
oilfield was established in 1819, and the first drilled well was begun
in 1859.
An oil man and entrepreneur, Creel built the
California House here in 1851 after the completion of the
Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike.
Sometimes called the Creel House, California House was named in honor of
the travelers who lodged here
on their way to California to strike it rich in the California Gold Rush
of 1848-1855. When asked why he didn’t also make the trip to California,
Creel is said to have replied that he was happy with his "Black Gold" in
western Virginia.
During the Civil War, the California House was frequented by troops from
both the North and South who used the Turnpike for travel and troop movements.
An excellent introduction to the site is available online at:
http://www.hurherald.com/cgi-bin/db_scripts/articles?Action=user_view&db=hurheral_articles&id=26696
And the home website for the group responsible for California House
is at:
http://www.little-mountain.com/oilandgasmuseum/
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